Unisa fosters a healthy working environment

On 12 September 2025, Unisa’s Employee Relations Directorate, under the Human Resources Department, hosted its annual Health and Wellness Day at the Muckleneuck Campus. The event provided the opportunity to also promote health and overall wellbeing through packaged wellness day offerings in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.

In his welcome address, Professor Solomon Magano, Vice-Principal (VP) of Institutional Development, said: “This event is not coincidental, but it is well-planned and at the heart of Unisa’s strategy to invest in the totality of the human being.”

Magano urged Unisans to focus on the quality of life while taking into consideration the tripartite comprised of the mental, physical, and spiritual elements. “These three elements of our being must be taken care of to achieve a healthy lifestyle,” he said.

Prof Solomon Magano (VP: Institutional Development) addressing staff participants at the event

Magano also managed to participate in a 5 kilometre walk to honour the day. He further wished Unisans good health, and urged them to invest in their bodies by ensuring that they prioritise their health and wellness.

Sustainable intervention packages

The event is popular amongst staff, and it resonates with them as an opportunity to interact with each other. They also got the opportunity to do important annual health screenings with medical aid schemes such as Bonitas, Best Med, and Discovery, as well as other external health practitioners on campus. These service providers exposed employees to a broader health screening for high blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and glucose levels to promote early detection of health risks.

This initiative empowers staff to become intentional about their wellbeing through engaging in meaningful and sustainable interventions packaged as part of the health offerings.

Front from left: Prof Magano, Prof Moloko Sepota, Acting Registrar and Dr Matsheliso Molapo, Acting VP: Strategy, Risk and Advisory Services, participating in the health and wellness 5km walk

The event also included fitness activities, such as 5 kilometre walk, aerobics to encourage regular physical activity, massage for boosting blood flow, dietary habits and advices, functional back and neck rehabilitation, as well as dental therapy.

Additionally, staff can join the different sporting codes like athletics, volleyball or football clubs under the Unisa Sports and Recreation Office. They may also do follow up checkups following their health screenings at various Unisa campus clinics.

Such auspicious events promote a healthy and productive workforce.

* By Tshidiso Madiseng and William Thubakgale, Department of Institutional Advancement

** Photography by Mduduzi Khathamzi ,Unisa Multimedia Centre